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. Envelope Letter-Sheet, No. 228,522. Patented June 8,1880.

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PATENT ADDISON O. FLETCHER, OF NENV YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,522,-da.ted June 8, 1880. Application filed May (3,18%. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ADDISON O. FLETCHER, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelope Letter- Sheets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to produce an envelope letter-sheet in such manner that by a proper form imparted to the sheet of paper and then folding the same it can be effectually sealed, and thus preserve from observation its written contents or inelosure.

My invention consists in constructing a sheet of note, letter, or cap paper with one or more gummed or cemented wings upon its side edges, at or about the center thereof, which can be easily formed with the paper sheets as the same are stamped or cut out, and constructing one of the folds or end members of the paper with a recess, notch, or opening in such manner that when the paper is folded the gummed wings can be pasted or gummed down over the recesses, notches, or openings in the last fold of the sheet, and the gum or cement, passing through the recesses, notches, or openings, will adhere to the first fold of the sheet, and thus securely and effectually hold the sheet in its folded condition and preserve from observation its written contents or inelosure.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents the envelope letter-sheet folded and held together by the center wings. Fig. 2 represents a view with one member folded and the other ready to be folded down to be held by the wings, and Fig. 3 represents a plan of the sheet before being folded.

The letter A represents the envelope lettersheet, composed, essentially, of the central portion, a, and the end members, I) and c, which are the folding members. At the center of the sheet, at the edges thereof, are formed or constructed wings B B, which project lat erally from the sheet. The member 0 of the sheet is constructed with recesses at its side edgcs,as at d, Fig. 2; or nstead of the recesses, the edges may be constructed with openings or apertures c, as shown in Fig. 3; or, instead thereof, the upper corners of the sheet may be formed with U or other suitable shaped recesses f, Fig. 2, the object and functions of which will be hereinafter described. In order to convert said sheet of paper into the form of an envelope, to constitute what Iterm a letter-envelope, it is folded at the line 9, being the proper and customary manner of makingafold. hen this memberbof the sheet is brought to the desired position, as in Fig. 2, the remaining member, having the recesses or openings (1, or c orf, as the case may be, is folded down upon the member I), and the recesses or openings will fall opposite the wings B. Said wings are then folded over upon the notched or recessed member 0, and gummed, cemented, or pasted down, (see Fig. 1,) the gum or paste passing through the openings or recesses and adhering to the under or first fold, l).

It will be understood'that the wings B preferably carry their own sea-ling medium, and by this means the sheet of paper can be converted into a letterenvelope with much ease and great rapidity.

WVhen it is desired to open the letter-envelope, this can be easily accomplished by passing a knife or the finger under the fold c and separating or dividing the wings from the body of the sheet. The inside of the sheet, when opened, is not defaced, inasmuch as the wings being on he outside ofthe sheet, when it is opened they do not mar the appearance of the written side of theletter, and the letter is retained ina neat and attractive form or shape.

I have illustrated in the present example a sheet of note-paper embodying my invention but it is evident that the invention is applicable to all forms of sheetpaper, such as letter, bill, or cap paper. The Wings B in the present example are of rectangular shape; but they may be square, oblong, triangular, or of any other shape practicable for the purpose.

The envelope letter-sheet as thus construct ed, having the wings gummed instead of the folding members, and the folding members perforated or recessed, offers greater security when sealed than where the gum is applied to the edge of the folding member and the wings are perforated, as the wings may be made to overlap the folding members instead of being interposed between them, as heretofore practiced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 7 An envelope letter-sheet constructed of a sheet of paper having at its edges and near its center gummed wings B, and constructed With the folding members I) and 0, one of which, 0, is provided with openings or recesses at its edges, all substantially as shown and described, and in such manner that when the member I) is folded down and the member cfolded thereon the wings B can be folded over upon the member 0, and the gum or cementingmedium, passing through the notches or recesses in the member 0, adheres to the first fold or lower member, as and for the object specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing l have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

ADDISON (J. FLETCHER. lVitnesses Jos. L. (JooMBs, A. H. Nonms. 

